Original subtitles

I BELIEVE, WHEN I DIED, I PASSED OVER.

I HAD A BATTLE WITH SATAN TWICE ON THE WAY BACK.

LEAVE ME ALONE.

I WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

SO I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.

THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED I WAS DEAD.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY

THEY HAVE VISITED THE AFTERLIFE,

CHALLENGING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DEATH.

MOTIVATED BY THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES PULLING VICTIMS

BACK FROM THE GRAVE,

FOUR INVESTIGATORS NOW SEEK TO SOLVE

THE MYSTERIES OF RESURRECTION.

THIS IS GONNA HELP UNLOCK SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN KNOWN

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

REGARDLESS OF RELIGION,

THE PERSON WAS DEAD AND THEY CAME BACK TO LIFE.

WE'RE PURSUING THIS TO SHOW THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE IS,

IN FACT, POSSIBLE.

DEATH DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE FINAL SAY-SO.

WHY DID YOU DEFY THE ODDS?

THIS IS "PROJECT AFTERLIFE."

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

EACH ONE OF US, IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY EXPERIENCED THIS,

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CLOSE LOVED ONE DIE.

I WANNA KNOW WHAT TO DO.

YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO SAY, "WELL, THERE ARE NO FORMULAS."

HOW DO WE KNOW THERE ARE NO FORMULAS?

I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE CASE HERE.

THIS IS RICK MADISON.

NOW, RICK WAS IN A HORRIFIC CAR ACCIDENT,

TOTALLY MANGLED HIS BODY.

HE WAS ACTUALLY PRONOUNCED DEAD ON ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL.

IT SAYS THE DOCTORS WERE ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO

SEND HIM TO THE MORGUE.

HE SHOULDN'T BE ALIVE.

BEING WITH THE HIGHWAY PATROL FOR 16 YEARS,

I DIDN'T SEE MANY PEOPLE MAKE IT OUTTA HEAD-ON COLLISIONS.

AM I READIN' THIS RIGHT?

IT SAYS HIS GRANDMOTHER WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

HIS FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF KINDA THESE SPIRITUAL,

SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTERS.

THIS HERE'S MY CASE.

IT'S A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH DOWN IN EAST TEXAS,

GUY BY THE NAME OF PAUL ESSARY.

FOOTBALL IS VERY BIG IN TEXAS.

AND SUPPOSEDLY, THIS GUY'S ONE OF THE TOP COACHES DOWN THERE,

WHO HAPPENED TO HAVE A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK

BACK IN 2009.

DIED FOR ALMOST AN HOUR.

HE FLATLINED, LIKE, 11 TIMES.

IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO GET SOMEBODY BACK AT THAT POINT,

THERE'S GOING TO BE MASSIVE BRAIN DAMAGE.

THE WIDOWMAKER HEART ATTACK, THIS TYPE OF HEART ATTACK

INVOLVES TWO-THIRDS OF THE HEART.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE HEART IS DEAD OR DYING.

SO I AM -- I'M SHOCKED THAT HE'S ALIVE.

IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAD QUITE A EXPERIENCE WHILE DEAD.

THERE IS A-A GREATER POWER.

IT'S STILL UNKNOWN TO PEOPLE.

I REALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET EVERYTHING WE CAN

WHEN WE'RE OUT HERE, ASKING THESE QUESTIONS.

**

MY INVESTIGATION OF RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD

BRINGS ME TO ATHENS, TEXAS,

WHERE A PILLAR OF STRENGTH IN A SMALL COMMUNITY

EXPERIENCED HOW FRAGILE LIFE CAN BE.

I'M MEETING PAUL ON THE 50 YARD LINE

WHERE HE COACHED HIS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM

TO ITS FIRST UNDEFEATED SEASON IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

WHAT'S UP, COACH? HEY. HOW YOU DOIN', SAM?

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN. GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THIS IS MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME

AND A PLACE THAT I GOT A SECOND CHANCE TO COME BACK

AND BE A PART OF AS COACH OF THE GREAT GAME OF FOOTBALL

HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THIS IS WHAT MY LIFE'S ALL ABOUT.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR STORY.

WELL, IT HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE.

IS THIS OKAY?

THAT SATURDAY OF MY HEART ATTACK,

MY WIFE DOENYE AND I WENT OUT TO EAT.

EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOTHIN' WRONG WITH THE MEAL.

AND I FELT A LITTLE NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT ARM

AND EXCESSIVE SWEATING.

I BLEW IT OFF.

LEFT THE MEX FOOD RESTAURANT AND DROVE TO A GIFT SHOP

TO BUY A GIFT FOR A BUDDY OF MINE

THAT WAS HAVIN' A SURPRISE 50th BIRTHDAY PARTY

THAT NEXT WEEKEND.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HAD TO SIT DOWN.

THAT'S WHEN I TOLD DOENYE,

AND SHE CAME BY AND ASKED IF I WAS DOIN' OKAY.

AND I SAID, "I DON'T FEEL GOOD."

HONEY, ARE YOU OKAY?

I TOLD HER I WAS GOIN' OUT TO THE CAR AND I'D WAIT ON HER.

I WENT OUT TO THE CAR ON MY OWN AND GOT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT,

WHICH IS VERY STRANGE BECAUSE I USUALLY ALWAYS DRIVE.

AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT ARM BEGAN,

AND THE HEAVINESS IN MY CHEST.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT FELT LIKE THAT SOMEONE STUCK

A NEEDLE IN ME AND DRAINED ALL THE AIR OUTTA MY BODY.

THAT SATURDAY, WE HAD GOT AN E-MAIL

THAT TALKED ABOUT IF YOU WAS HAVIN' A HEART ATTACK,

YOU NEED TO MAKE YOURSELF COUGH.

SHE SAID, "ARE YOU DOIN' THAT ON PURPOSE?"

AND I SAID, "YES."

SHE SAID, "DO I NEED TO TAKE YOU TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM?"

I SAID, "YES."

MY GOD. YOU'RE HAVIN' A HEART ATTACK.

HER DEMEANOR CHANGED.

I'M GETTIN' YOU TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

SHE FLOORED THE VEHICLE.

I COULD TELL SHE WAS PANICKIN'.

WHEN WE ARRIVED TO THE HOSPITAL,

MY WIFE GETS OUT AND GOES IN VERY QUICKLY

TO TELL THEM THAT I WAS HAVIN' A HEART ATTACK.

AND I REMEMBER THIS LITTLE NURSE.

SHE WAS SO BUBBLY, SO CHEERFUL.

"YOU THINK YOUR HUSBAND'S HAVIN' A HEART ATTACK?"

OKAY, SIR. SIR, COME RIGHT HERE WITH ME.

SHE CAME OVER. SHE CHECKED MY VITALS.

AND AS SHE WAS CHECKIN', HER EYES GOT BIG.

HER VOICE CHANGED.

AND I KNEW IT WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

SHE COULD NOT FIND THE PULSE, IT WAS SO WEAK.

YOU TAKE IN SOME BIG BREATHS, SIR.

A BIG, BIG MAN CAME IN AND SAID,

"SIR, HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CATHETER?"

AND I SAID, "NO. IS IT GONNA HURT?"

AND HE SAID, "MAN, I'M NOT GONNA LIE TO YA. IT'S GONNA HURT."

HERE WE GO, PAUL.

I DO NOT REMEMBER THE PAIN,

BUT IT MUST'VE BEEN PAIN 'CAUSE I DO REMEMBER THROWIN' MY HEAD

BACK AND LETTIN' OUT A YELL.

AND THAT'S WHEN MY WIFE SAID I FLATLINED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

OVER THE NEXT 27 MINUTES, AS PARAMEDICS ATTEMPTED C.P.R.,

PAUL WOULD FLATLINE 11 TIMES.

WITH EACH FLATLINE, CRITICAL BLOOD FLOW TO HIS BRAIN

IS INTERRUPTED, INCREASING THE CHANCES OF BRAIN DAMAGE

IF HE DID RETURN TO LIFE.

I DID NOT COME BACK.

TIME OF DEATH -- 22:37.

FOR 4 TO 5 MINUTES OR MORE, NOBODY EVEN TOUCHED ME.

I'M JUST LAYIN' THERE ON THE GURNEY, GONE.

I'M -- I AM SO SORRY. LET'S JUST GO STAND OUT HERE.

WHILE SAM DIGS DEEPER INTO PAUL'S CASE,

MY INVESTIGATION LEADS ME TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,

WHERE ONE MAN'S STORY OF RESURRECTION

HAS NO MEDICAL EXPLANATION.

IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 1986,

RICK MADISON WAS INVOLVED IN A SEVERE HEAD-ON COLLISION.

TODAY, RICK'S ASKED ME TO MEET HIM AT THE VERY SPOT

WHERE HIS BROKEN BODY LAY DYING ON THE ROAD.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR LIFE UP TO THIS ACCIDENT.

WHAT -- WHAT WERE YOU INVOLVED IN?

WHAT WERE YOU DOING?

I WAS PARTYIN' AND, JUST LIVIN' IT UP,

THINKIN' THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT FOREVER.

SO WALK ME THROUGH THE CRASH A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THOSE MOMENTS LEADING UP TO IT?

I'D BEEN PARTYIN' ALL NIGHT WITH FRIENDS.

IT WAS TYPICAL FOR US TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT ON -- ON A FRIDAY

OR SATURDAY NIGHT, JUST CLOWNIN' AROUND.

I THOUGHT I WAS OKAY TO DRIVE.

I DIDN'T REALLY THINK TOO MUCH OF IT,

BUT SOMETHING IN ME WASN'T RIGHT.

THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS I WAS THINKING,

"I'LL BE HOME IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

AND THEN, I CAN GET SOME SLEEP."

NEXT THING I KNEW, I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.

I WASN'T WEARING A SEAT BELT.

I COLLIDED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.

THE RIBS IN MY CHEST WERE BROKEN.

MY LEFT LEG WAS PUSHED THROUGH MY PELVIS, BROKE MY HIP.

ONE RIB ON THE LEFT SIDE TORE THROUGH THE AORTA.

I WAS TRAPPED IN MY VEHICLE BEFORE THE JAWS OF LIFE

WERE USED TO CUT ME OUT.

I WAS TOLD IT TOOK THEM 39 MINUTES

TO ACTUALLY REMOVE ME FROM THE VEHICLE.

HAS HE BEEN RESPONSIVE AT ALL?

NOT AT ALL.

PARAMEDICS ARRIVED.

OKAY. GET HIM IN THE TRUCK. WE NEED TO GO.

I HAD NO OVER-UNDER BLOOD PRESSURE.

THE PARAMEDICS HAD GIVEN ME 3 LITERS OF...

SOLUTION THEY HAD POURED OUT

IN MY STOMACH DUE TO THE TORN AORTA AND A RUPTURED SPLEEN.

I HAD NO BLOOD CARRYIN' OXYGEN TO MY BRAIN

FOR NEARLY 39 MINUTES.

ACCORDING TO MOST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS,

THE LONGEST THE HUMAN BRAIN CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT OXYGEN IS

ONLY 15 MINUTES.

PARAMEDICS WORKED ON RICK FOR NEARLY THREE TIMES THAT AMOUNT.

AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL,

RICK WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.

LUCKILY FOR RICK,

HE EXPERIENCED WHAT THE MEDICAL FIELD REFERS TO

AS THE LAZARUS SYNDROME.

RICK'S HEART SPONTANEOUSLY BEGAN TO BEAT AGAIN

EVEN AFTER C.P.R. HAD BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

THIS SYNDROME IS EXTREMELY RARE AND UNEXPLAINABLE.

THOUGH RICK MIRACULOUSLY GAINED A PULSE,

HE WAS CONSIDERED BRAIN-DEAD AND ONLY KEPT ALIVE

BY A LIFE SUPPORT MACHINE

UNTIL HIS FAMILY COULD ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL.

SO YOU WEREN'T BREATHING, THERE WAS NO HEARTBEAT,

AND YOU WERE OFFICIALLY DEAD.

I WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

I WAS A VEGETABLE.

AND THEY BROUGHT A SOCIAL WORKER IN AND TOLD MY FAMILY,

"YOU HAVE TO TAKE HIM TO A FUNERAL HOME."

**

PAUL ESSARY HAD SUFFERED FROM A SEVERE HEART ATTACK.

AFTER FLATLINING SEVERAL TIMES, TIME OF DEATH IS CALLED.

THAT'S WHEN PAUL BEGINS WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS

AN OUT-OF-BODY JOURNEY TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.

I APPEARED IN HEAVEN.

I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE PEOPLE GO, "YEAH. SURE YOU DID."

I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

I BELIEVE, WHEN I DIED, I PASSED OVER.

I DID NOT FLOAT ABOVE THE ROOM.

I DID NOT SEE PEOPLE WORKIN' ON ME.

I DID NOT SEE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

THAT I WAS DRAWN TO.

I APPEARED...

AT A BIG, OPEN AREA

WHICH LED INTO WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A SANCTUARY,

A BIG AUDITORIUM.

TO THE RIGHT SIDE WAS A LIGHT THAT WAS SO BRIGHT

THAT I COULD NOT EVEN LOOK UPON IT.

TO THE LEFT SIDE AND STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF ME

WAS AUDITORIUM-LIKE SEATING.

THEN, I LOOKED OUT.

AND I COULDN'T TELL YA IF THERE WAS PEOPLE'S SOULS

OR WHAT IT WAS.

I JUST KNEW THEY WERE THERE.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF 'EM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY.

MILLION, TRILLIONS, I COULDN'T TELL YA.

I WAS LOOKIN' FOR ONE PERSON,

AND I WAS LOOKIN' FOR MY MOTHER.

I DID NOT SEE HER.

IT FELT LIKE GOIN' OVER A ROLLER COASTER,

HOW YOU WOULD LOSE YOUR STOMACH.

AT THAT TIME, MY SOUL JUMPED.

"MY GOODNESS.

"WHERE IS MOTHER?

IF MY MOTHER'S NOT HERE, THEN WHERE AM I?"

AND I LOOKED ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE,

AND MY MOTHER WAS STANDING.

I COULD NOT TELL YOU IF SHE WAS 25 OR 75 YEARS OLD.

SHE JUST LOOKED BEAUTIFUL.

SHE WAS JUST RAYANT, WITH LIGHT ALL AROUND HER, JUST BEAUTY.

NEXT THING I KNOW, I'M WITHIN FEET OF HER.

I DO NOT KNOW IF I FLEW OVER THERE, I WALKED.

I JUST APPEARED IN FRONT OF HER.

AND SHE SAID, "IT'S SO NICE HERE."

I SAID, "I KNOW, MOTHER. BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK.

MOTHER, YOU GOTTA MAKE HIM SEND ME BACK."

AND I MUST'VE TURNED BECAUSE I APPEARED BEFORE THE MAN.

AND I CALL HIM THE MAN, JESUS.

I SEEN HIS HAIR.

HE HAD SOMETHIN' WHITE ON, LIKE A HOOD ON A ROBE THAT COME DOWN.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING, IMAGE,

ANYTHING I'VE EVER LAID EYES UPON.

YOU SAW JESUS? YES, SIR.

WHEN I TURNED TO MY RIGHT, THERE HE WAS.

AFTER THAT, I HAD A BATTLE WITH SATAN TWICE ON THE WAY BACK.

WHAT WERE YOU FEELIN' OR THINKIN' AT THAT TIME?

WELL, THE FIRST TRIAL, I WAS IN A...

I CLASSIFY IT LIKE A BIG BOATHOUSE.

I WAS TIED DOWN TO A CHAIR IN THE SPIRIT WORLD.

I WAS TRYIN' TO GET OUT OF THIS CHAIR.

I COULD NOT GET OUT.

I WAS SO PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FATIGUED.

AND THERE WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE WOMAN STANDIN' IN FRONT

THAT WAS TRYIN' TO GET ME TO DENY CHRIST.

AND SHE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T DENY,

"WE HAVE YOUR DADDY DOWNSTAIRS.

"WE'RE GONNA HOOK HIM UP ON A HOOK AND BRING HIM UP

AND FILLET HIM IN FRONT OF YOU."

THE LADY CAME IN FROM BEHIND A WALL, A PARTITION.

AND SHE LOOKED SORTA LIKE MY WIFE,

BUT I KNEW AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT MY WIFE.

AND I REMEMBER HER SAYIN', "HONEY, COME ON. JUST SAY IT."

JUST DO WHAT SHE SAYS, AND LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

AND I SAID, "NO. I WILL NOT."

YES!

AND AT THAT TIME, I JUST STOPPED.

THAT WAS THE END OF THAT TRIAL.

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT JUST DISAPPEARED.

WHEN YOU'VE DONE ALL YOU CAN DO, THEN YOU JUST STAND.

AS PAUL'S LIFELESS BODY SAT IN THE HOSPITAL BED,

HIS WIFE DOENYE PRAYED AT THE DOOR.

AT THAT MOMENT, FOR REASONS THAT DEFY MEDICAL PROTOCOL,

DOCTORS MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO RESUSCITATE PAUL.

THIS TIME, HIS HEART JUMPED.

MOST DOCTORS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,

ONCE THEY -- THEY CALL IT, THEY LEAVE. THEY'RE GONE.

OKAY, AND HIM STILL BEIN' THERE,

THERE WAS A REASON HE DIDN'T WALK OUTTA THAT ROOM.

BUT PAUL WAS FAR FROM THE GRIP OF DEATH.

TETHERED TO LIFE SUPPORT MACHINES

FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS,

PAUL FACED MORE ATTACKS ON HIS FAITH.

THIS IS A TRIAL WHEN I WAS LAYIN' IN BED.

WHEN I LOOKED TO MY LEFT, I SEEN THE LORD'S LAST SUPPER,

THE PORTRAIT.

I WAS HOLIER THAN THOU.

OUR FATHER...

I WAS QUOTIN' BIBLE VERSES, CHRISTIAN SONGS.

WHEN I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT...

LEAVE ME ALONE.

NASTY, GROSS, DISGUSTING.

I REMEMBER AN IMAGE COMING TO ME FROM THE CEILING.

HE PRESENTED HIS SELF TO ME, AND HE SAID,

"I'VE COME FOR YOU."

AND I REMEMBER LOOKIN' AT HIM AND TELLIN' HIM,

"NO. I'M NOT GOIN' WITH YOU."

HE SAID, "YES. I'VE COME FOR YOU.

THEY DIDN'T WANT YOU."

I WILL NOT GO WITH YOU!

AND I TOLD HIM ONE LAST TIME, "NO. I'M NOT GOIN' WITH YOU."

SOMETHING STARTED IN THE BOTTOM OF MY STOMACH

AND WORKED ITS WAY UP,

AND IT WAS THE MOST EVIL SOUND

AND IT ERUPTED OUT OF MY MOUTH.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS SATAN LEAVIN' MY BODY.

AND WHEN IT LEFT MY BODY, ALL OF MY VITALS WENT --

WENT TO NORMAL.

AND I WAS BACK THEN.

I REMEMBER OPENIN' MY EYES.

AND I REMEMBER LOOKIN' AT MY WIFE AND GOIN', "I CAN'T TALK."

AND I REMEMBER HER LOOKIN' AT ME WITH A SMILE AND GOIN',

"IF YOU CAN'T TALK, THEN WHY CAN I HEAR YOU?"

SO HOW DID YOUR POOR WIFE FEEL ABOUT THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE?

I KNOW IT WAS TOUGH ON HER. BUT SHE'S A STRONG LADY.

SHE BECAME EVEN STRONGER,

NOT ONLY IN THE NATURAL, BUT ALSO SPIRITUALLY.

SHE IS AN AMAZING WOMAN.

WHILE PAUL STRUGGLED THROUGH

THE TRIALS OF THE AFTERLIFE,

I'M CURIOUS WHAT HIS WIFE WITNESSED.

PAUL'S SOUL MAINTAINED HIS FAITH THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL.

BUT HE SAYS IT WAS ACTUALLY HIS WIFE

WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU. YOU, TOO, SAM.

I MET WITH YOUR HUSBAND, PAUL.

AND, HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS RESURRECTION EXPERIENCE.

MOST PEOPLE, AFTER THEY HEAR SOMEONE DIE, THEY GIVE UP.

WHAT -- WHAT MADE YOU NOT GIVE UP?

I KNEW HE WOULD NEVER GIVE UP. SO I WASN'T ABOUT TO.

WHAT -- WHAT PART DID YOU PLAY IN THAT?

WELL, IT'S A BIG PART.

WE WERE TOGETHER DURIN' THE WHOLE THING.

TELL ME, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU GOT TO THE HOSPITAL.

WELL, WHEN WE GOT THERE, I WAS FRANTIC.

WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL, I TOLD THE NURSE I THOUGHT

MY HUSBAND WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S GO RIGHT OVER HERE, SIR.

DID HIS BLOOD PRESSURE AND EVERYTHING.

ALL RIGHT, SIR.

I'M JUST GONNA TAKE YOUR PULSE REAL QUICK, OKAY?

KEEP TAKIN' SOME DEEP BREATHS FOR ME.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND LAY DOWN.

LAUREN, WE GOTTA GET HIM INTO ONE.

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE COULDN'T FIND A PULSE.

LET'S GET YOU INTO YOUR BED.

SHE WAS SCREAMING AT THE OTHER NURSES TO GET A ROOM CLEARED

TO TAKE PAUL INTO BECAUSE SHE REALIZED, TOO, THAT, YES,

HE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

KEEP TAKING DEEP BREATHS, SIR.

WITHIN 10 MINUTES,

THEY HAD ALREADY GOT HIM HOOKED UP TO THE MACHINES.

WE'RE GONNA DO SOME TESTS ON YA REAL QUICK, OKAY?

PUT THE CATHETER IN HIM. AND HE FLATLINED.

AND THAT'S WHEN THEY PUT THE PADDLES ON HIM.

CLEAR.

IT DIDN'T WORK THE FIRST TIME.

NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN, THEY UPPED THE AMPS.

CHARGE TO 400. SHOCKING.

THEY DID IT AGAIN.

AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OKAY.

BUT IT WASN'T.

ALL CLEAR. SHOCKING.

WE GOT NO PULSE.

THEY STARTED C.P.R. ON HIM.

AND THEY WORKED ON HIM FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES,

WHICH IS LONGER THAN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK ON IT

BECAUSE AFTER 12 TO 15 MINUTES,

YOU'RE NORMALLY BRAIN-DEAD ANYWAY.

EPI-PEN.

LET'S HAVE ANOTHER 2 MILLIGRAMS READY.

COME ON, PAUL. FIGHT FOR ME. COME ON.

COME ON, PAUL.

AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, PUSHED PAUL ASIDE...

LET'S STOP C.P.R.

AND CALLED HIS TIME OF DEATH.

TIME OF DEATH -- 22:37.

I HAD JUST SEEN MY BEST FRIEND DIE.

WE GOT A PULSE. COME WITH ME. COME ON.

**

AFTER A NIGHT OF PARTYING WITH FRIENDS,

RICK MADISON WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION.

HE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC BLOOD LOSS

FROM INJURIES TO HIS AORTA, LUNG, AND SPLEEN.

HAVING NO OXYGEN SUPPLIED TO HIS BRAIN FOR NEARLY 39 MINUTES,

RICK WAS FINALLY TRANSPORTED TO

THE NEAREST HOSPITAL BY PARAMEDICS.

SO AFTER SUFFERING THROUGH THIS HORRIFIC ACCIDENT,

YOU WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL?

THAT'S RIGHT.

BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL,

I HAD NO PULSE AND I WAS NOT BREATHING.

AND WHAT DID THE DOCTORS SAY?

THEY SAID I HAD NO BRAIN ACTIVITY ON

THE LOWER LOBES OF MY BRAIN, THAT I WAS A VEGETABLE.

IN A COMA? IN A BRAIN-DEAD COMA.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT YOU REMEMBER?

WELL, I HAD AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE.

WELL, THE ONLY THING THAT I REMEMBER

FROM THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS I LEFT MY BODY.

AND I WALKED THROUGH THE HALLWAY OF A HOSPITAL.

THERE WAS ACTUALLY A DOCTOR AND A NURSE APPROACHING ME.

AND I'M THINKING THAT SOMEONE HAS TO MOVE.

BUT WHEN I GOT TO WHERE THEY WERE,

I WALKED RIGHT THROUGH THEM.

AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WAS THERE.

I WAS ACTUALLY PERPLEXED THAT I WAS ABLE TO

WALK THROUGH PEOPLE AND THEM NOT KNOW THAT I WAS THERE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHY OR HOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE

'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS HAVING AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE

AT THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENED.

THE NEXT THING I KNEW, I WAS REACHING FOR A DOOR.

BUT I WENT THROUGH THE DOOR.

AND THEN, I REALIZED I WAS IN A CHURCH-LIKE SETTING.

I NOTICED THE COLOR OF THE CARPET.

THE TEMPERATURE WAS PERFECT.

I SAW MY MOTHER AT THE FRONT, KNEELED DOWN, PRAYING.

I WALKED UP BEHIND HER.

SHE WAS ASKING JESUS TO GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE.

DON'T LET ME DIE A LOSS.

GOD, PLEASE DON'T TAKE HIM.

AND I SPOKE TO HER.

AND I SAID, "MOM, HERE I AM. WHY ARE YOU PRAYING FOR ME?"

IT'S ME. IT'S RICHARD.

CALLED OUT TO HER.

"MA, I'M RIGHT HERE."

SHE LOOKED IN MY DIRECTION.

BUT I DON'T THINK SHE COULD SEE ME.

SO I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.

THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED I WAS DEAD.

SO YOU REALIZED YOU'RE DEAD.

WAS THAT A SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?

WELL, I BECAME TERRIFIED BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T SEE ME.

SHE COULDN'T HEAR ME. BUT I COULD HEAR HER.

NO ONE ELSE COULD SEE ME.

AND THAT'S A VERY TERRIFYING, MOMENT, WHEN YOU REALIZE

THAT YOU'RE SEEING EVERYTHING AND ALL THE EVENTS AROUND YOU,

AND NOBODY CAN SEE YOU.

AND THAT'S AT THE MOMENT I REALIZED, "I NEED HELP."

MY MOM DID LOOK LIKE SHE WAS DEVASTATED, THAT SHE WAS,

IN DEEP PRAYER.

SHE WAS, UM, ALMOST IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

PLEASE DON'T LET HIM DIE. JESUS, PLEASE. PLEASE.

SHE WAS PRAYIN' FERVENTLY, PRAYIN' HARD.

AND IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS PLEADING,

DESPERATELY FOR GOD TO GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE.

MOM. PLEASE LET HIM LIVE.

AND THAT'S THE MOMENT THAT I FELT LIKE SOMETHIN' SAID,

"YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT SHE'S DOING NOW."

AND I LOOKED UP AND SAID,

"JESUS, IF YOU'RE REAL, HELP ME."

"MOM'S PRAYING FOR ME, AND SOMETHING'S WRONG."

AND THAT'S WHEN I FELT A HUGE HAND COVER THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

THE HAND FELT LIKE IT WAS AS LARGE AS THE PRAYER ROOM.

AND I HEARD A VOICE BEHIND ME.

AND IT SAID, "I'M JESUS, AND I'M REAL.

AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE."

I WANTED TO TURN AND SEE WHAT JESUS LOOKED LIKE.

BUT HIS HAND HELD MY HEAD

AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO TURN AND SEE HIM.

AND AS I TRIED TO TURN, IT MADE ME TILT.

AND I ACTUALLY, LIKE A VACUUM, LEFT THE PRAYER ROOM.

IT WAS JUST A-A FLASH.

AND I WAS IN MY BODY. AND I WOKE UP.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN -- CAN YOU HEAR ME?

DOCTOR!

RICHARD, CAN YOU -- CAN YOU HEAR ME, RICHARD?

CAN YOU MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH ME?

AND THERE WAS A NURSE.

AND I WANTED TO EXPLAIN TO HER THIS ENCOUNTER I HAD JUST HAD.

COME HERE! HE'S AWAKE!

I KNEW I WAS AT A HOSPITAL. I DIDN'T KNOW WHY.

I'M HERE WITH YOU. IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

SO THIS WAS A REAL MOMENT FOR YOU. THIS WASN'T A DREAM.

THIS WASN'T A VISION. THIS WAS VERY REAL TO YOU.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY A REAL EVENT.

IT WAS NOT A DREAM.

IN HEARING RICK'S AFTERLIFE EXPERIENCE,

WHAT STRUCK ME WAS THE MOMENT IN THE CHAPEL

HE CRIED OUT FOR HELP.

DID THAT HELP COME FROM SOMEONE HERE IN THE LIVING?

THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION COULD LIE WITH THE PERSON

CENTRAL TO RICK'S VISION --

HIS MOTHER, JEWEL.

BY THE TIME JEWEL FIRST SAW HER SON AT THE HOSPITAL,

THE DOCTORS HAD SIMPLY KEPT HIM ALIVE

SO THAT SHE COULD SAY HER GOODBYES.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU.

RICK'S TOLD ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS STORY.

AND I'M -- I'M REALLY ANXIOUS TO HEAR SOME OF THE DETAILS

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

WHERE SHOULD I START?

I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, WENT IN, AND I ASKED WHERE MY SON WAS.

MY SON, MY SON, RICHARD MADISON. WHAT ROOM IS HE IN?

ROOM 101, THAT WAY.

I LOOKED.

AND I SAID, "I DON'T SEE MY SON."

AND SHE SAID, "YEAH, THAT'S HIM RIGHT THERE."

I SAW HIS HEAD AS BIG AS A BASKETBALL.

AND I JUST SLID DOWN THE WALL.

YOUR HEAD. COME ON. IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.

I JUST WENT DOWN.

HE HAD BLOOD COMIN' FROM HIS EARS, HIS EYES, HIS MOUTH,

EVERYWHERE.

HE WAS BRAIN-DEAD.

HE HAD, LIKE, 1 OUNCE OF BLOOD IN HIS BODY.

AND I JUST -- I JUST STARTED PRAYIN'.

THAT'S ALL I KNEW TO DO, WAS JUST PRAY.

I COULDN'T GIVE UP BECAUSE HE WAS NOT SAVED.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY HAVE BEEN MAKING A DEAL WITH GOD.

YEAH. I OFFERED HIM MY LIFE.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH PAUL ESSARY WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD

FROM A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK SOON AFTER HIS WIFE, DOENYE,

BROUGHT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.

TO CONCLUDE MY INVESTIGATION ON PAUL'S RESURRECTION,

I NEED TO KNOW -- DID HIS WIFE SAVE HIM?

HOW WERE YOU ACTUALLY FEELING? WAS IT OVERWHELMING?

I HAD JUST LOST MY BEST FRIEND.

I HAD JUST SEEN MY BEST FRIEND DIE.

I WAS LOST, TOTALLY LOST.

WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE AFTER THAT?

I GOT ON THE PHONE.

AND WE HAVE A PRAYER LINE AT OUR CHURCH.

WHILE PAUL'S HEART WAS STOPPED

AND HE STRUGGLED THROUGH HIS FIRST TRIAL WITH SATAN,

DOENYE REACHED OUT TO HER FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP FOR HELP.

SHE WASN'T READY TO GIVE UP ON PAUL.

I CALLED, UM, ACTUALLY, ONE OF HIS SISTERS.

AND SHE STARTED THE PRAYER LINE,

TOLD HIM THAT HE IS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

I HAD HIM AT THE HOSPITAL, AND I NEEDED PRAYER IMMEDIATELY.

THERE COMES DEBBIE. NO.

PEOPLE STARTED SHOWING UP AT THE HOSPITAL.

AND WE PRAYED TOGETHER.

AND WE WOULD, START PRAYER CIRCLES.

AND HE NEEDED EVERY PRAYER HE COULD GET.

THAT WAS THE POINT IN TIME

WHEN I REALLY HAD A ONE-ON-ONE WITH GOD

AND TOLD HIM I NEEDED HIM TO BE THERE.

I NEEDED HIM TO TOUCH EVERY INSTRUMENT.

I NEEDED HIM TO ANOINT EVERY HAND THAT TOUCHED PAUL.

I NEEDED EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON WITH PAUL TO BE PERFECT

SO THAT HE WOULD COME BACK TO ME THE WAY HE WAS SUPPOSED TO.

AS THE GROUP PRAYED RELENTLESSLY,

THE MEDICAL STAFF REMAINED IN PAUL'S ROOM,

SEEMINGLY UNABLE TO GIVE UP ON THEIR LIFELESS PATIENT.

AND I KEPT LOOKING INTO PAUL'S ROOM AND WATCHING THE DOCTOR.

AT FIRST, THE DOCTOR WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED,

AND I COULD SEE IT IN HIS FACE.

BUT THEN, THIS LOOK CAME OVER HIM.

AND HE CHARGED BACK OVER TO PAUL AND STARTED WORKING FEVERISHLY.

GOT A PULSE. WHOLE TEAM. WHOLE TEAM. COME ON.

I GOT A PULSE. LET'S GET HIM READY FOR SURGERY.

LET'S GO.

RECORD SHOWS THAT AROUND THIS TIME,

PAUL'S HEART MIRACULOUSLY BEGAN TO REVIVE.

BUT THERE'S STILL NO TELLIN' WHAT DAMAGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE

BY THE EXTENDED TIME WITH NO BLOOD FLOW.

DOENYE?

WHAT'S THE NEWS?

WE -- WE GOT HIM BACK.

THANK GOD.

BUT HE'S STILL UNCONSCIOUS.

WHEN DOCTOR CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT PAUL'S HEART WAS OKAY,

HE WAS GOING TO BE FINE.

"FINE" MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN 100% THE WAY IT WAS.

BUT HE WAS GOING TO BE ALIVE AND COMING BACK.

JUST KEEP DOIN' WHAT YOU'RE DOIN'.

THANK YOU.

SO HE ACTUALLY RE-ENGAGED... HE STARTED BACK ON HIM...

THE RESUSCITATION? AND BROUGHT HIM BACK.

BUT DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HE WAS OUT,

HE THOUGHT PAUL MIGHT BE ABLE TO SIT IN A WHEELCHAIR,

POSSIBLY HOLD HIS HEAD UP, NEVER -- NEVER FEED HIMSELF,

NEVER BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ON HIS OWN AGAIN.

SO HE WAS FAR FROM OUT OF THE GRIPS OF --

OF THINGS CHANGIN' FOR THE POSITIVE.

YEAH. IT WAS -- IT WAS REALLY BAD AT THAT POINT.

HE STARTED GOING THROUGH THIS ALL-NIGHT-LONG ORDEAL.

WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SEVERAL DAYS PASS WHILE PAUL'S BODY

TRIED TO RECOVER FROM MASSIVE TRAUMA TO HIS HEART.

MACHINES STILL AIDED PAUL'S STABILITY.

AND DOENYE STAYED BY HIS SIDE DAY AND NIGHT.

ON THE NINTH DAY, SOMETHIN' CHANGED WITHIN PAUL.

WHILE HE WAS IN BED, HIS BODY WAS MOVING.

HE ALMOST CAME OUT OF THE BED.

YOU OKAY?

HIS BODY WAS DOING THINGS.

HIS EYES WERE OPEN.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS, HE WAS LOOKING AROUND.

HIS EYES WERE OPEN.

AND THERE WAS THIS FEAR IN HIS EYES THAT...

IT WAS ENOUGH TO SCARE ALL OF US TO DEATH.

I'VE NEVER BEEN SCARED OF MY HUSBAND EVER.

GET AWAY.

BUT FOR SOME REASON, THAT NIGHT, WHEN I STARTED TO BEND DOWN,

THIS ARM WOULD COME UP.

AND IT -- IT SCARED ME.

SO I LEANED OVER. AND I HELD HIM.

AND WHEN I DID...

GET AWAY FROM ME! I...

THROUGH HIS GUT DOWN DEEP,

IT WAS A GROWLING-TYPE LANGUAGE COMING ALL THE WAY FROM HIS GUT,

ALL THE WAY UP.

AND BY THE TIME IT GOT UP HERE, IT ERUPTED OUT OF HIM.

I HAVE GOOSE BUMPS RIGHT NOW.

IT -- IT'S -- IT WAS JUST THE MOST HORRIBLE SOUND

I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THAT WAS THE DEVIL LEAVING,

FINALLY SAID, "I GIVE UP." THAT WAS IT.

AND ONCE IT ERUPTED OUT OF HIM...

HE PASSED OUT.

AND HIS VITALS WENT BACK TO NORMAL.

WELL, SO, DOENYE, WHAT DID YOU REALLY THINK

BROUGHT YOUR HUSBAND BACK TO LIFE?

THE POWER OF PRAYER AND OUR DEEP FAITH IN GOD.

THAT'S ALL THERE WAS.

IT -- IT WAS JUST A DIVINE INTERVENTION.

PAUL'S CASE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER I'VE EVER SEEN.

LEFT FOR DEAD, HE PASSED TO THE OTHER SIDE,

AND WENT THROUGH REMARKABLE TRIALS WHILE HIS WIFE,

COMMUNITY, AND MEDICAL STAFF ALL PLAYED A ROLE

IN BRINGIN' HIM BACK.

IT'S REALLY AMAZIN' HOW YOU TWO STOOD TOGETHER

THROUGH THIS TEST OF TIME,

PARTICULARLY YOU COMIN' BACK FROM THE DEAD

AND HOW SHE JUST WOULD NOT QUIT.

HOW DOES THIS HELP YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

WE -- WE ALREADY HAD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP.

WE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN EACH OTHER.

SOMETIME, I THINK SHE BELIEVES TOO MUCH IN ME.

YOU KNOW, SHE THINKS THAT, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING I WANT,

I SHOULD GET.

SO I DON'T KNOW IT COULD GET ANY STRONGER.

BUT I GUESS IT HAS.

WE WERE -- HAD A VERY, VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP BEFORE.

BUT I GUESS YOU COULD SAY

WE'RE STRONGER THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN.

HE'S MY ROCK.

REALLY I'M THERE OR NOT THERE. BUT I'LL ALWAYS BE WITH HER.

WAS PAUL'S RESURRECTION DUE TO HIS WIFE'S UNWAVERING BELIEF,

THE PRAYERS FROM HIS COMMUNITY?

OR THE STRENGTH OF HIS SPIRIT IN THE FACE OF EVIL FORCES

IN THE AFTERLIFE?

EACH QUESTION BRINGS ME CLOSER

TO UNLOCKING THE MYSTERY OF RESURRECTION.

AS I WAS PRAYIN',

I COULD FEEL A SPIRIT OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER.

AND I'D TURN, AND I'D LOOK.

BUT I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

DID YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE COULD COME BACK FROM THE DEAD?

RICK MADISON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD

WHEN HE ARRIVED AT A NASHVILLE HOSPITAL

AFTER A HEAD-ON COLLISION.

HE UNEXPLAINABLY REGAINED A PULSE AFTER NO OXYGEN

HAD BEEN SUPPLIED TO HIS BRAIN FOR NEARLY 40 MINUTES.

RICK'S BODY WAS KEPT ON LIFE SUPPORT

SO HIS FAMILY COULD SAY GOODBYE.

FOR THE NEXT 27 DAYS, RICK'S MOTHER, JEWEL,

CONTINUED TO PRAY FOR HER SON.

DURING THAT TIME,

RICK CLAIMS TO HAVE HAD AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE

WHERE HE WITNESSED HIS MOTHER PRAYING.

I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JEWEL EXPERIENCED DURING THAT TIME.

WELL, WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION?

I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT I WAS NOT GONNA P--

PUT HIM IN THE GROUND.

I KNEW, "WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHIN'."

WHEN THE DOCTORS TELL ME

THAT I WAS GONNA HAVE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS, I SAID, "NO."

I WAS CRYIN'.

AND I TOOK MY TEAR,

AND I TOUCHED HIM UP AND UNDER HIS EYE HERE.

YOUR MOTHER LOVES YOU.

I COULDN'T GIVE UP BECAUSE HE WAS NOT SAVED.

AND I DID NOT WANT HIM TO DIE AND GO TO HELL.

WHEN RICK WAS LYIN' THERE IN BED,

MYSELF AND OTHERS WOULD COME AND ANOINT HIM WITH THE OIL.

WE BELIEVE IN USIN' THE OIL.

THAT'S THE WAY WE WERE BROUGHT UP,

WAS YOU ALWAYS USE OIL BECAUSE IN THE OLD DAYS,

THEY WERE ALWAYS USIN' THE OIL TO ANOINT.

PLEASE BRING HIM BACK.

I WENT DOWN TO THE PRAYER ROOM.

AND I LAID MYSELF ACROSS THE ALTAR.

AND I JUST CRIED OUT TO GOD...

"TAKE ME."

TAKE ME.

"AND LET HIM LIVE

"BECAUSE HE CAN CARRY YOUR WORD AROUND THE WORLD.

I CAN'T."

BUT I SAID, "HE CAN. I KNOW HE CAN."

TO ME, IT KINDA SOUNDS LIKE

YOU MAY HAVE BEEN MAKING A DEAL WITH GOD.

YEAH. I OFFERED HIM MY LIFE.

I WAS WILLING TO LAY MY LIFE DOWN FOR HIM.

AS I WAS PRAYIN', I COULD --

I COULD FEEL A SPIRIT OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER.

AND I'D TURN, AND I'D LOOK.

BUT I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

TWO, THREE TIMES, I FELT IT.

BUT I COULDN'T SEE NOBODY.

DID TWO WORLDS COLLIDE AT THAT MOMENT?

DID RICK CRY OUT TO HIS MOTHER IN THE AFTERLIFE

JUST AS SHE TURNED OVER HER SHOULDER?

WAS THIS THE MOMENT THAT BROUGHT RICK BACK FROM THE DEAD?

FOR MORE "PROJECT AFTERLIFE,"

GO TO DestinationAmerica.com/ ProjectAfterlife.

I'M IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,

TO HEAR JEWEL MADISON'S TESTIMONY

ABOUT THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF HER SON, RICK.

HER EXPERIENCE AND BELIEFS MAY HAVE WELL SAVED HER SON'S LIFE.

DID YOU BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION?

DID YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE COULD COME BACK FROM THE DEAD?

WELL, I HAD HEARD ABOUT THINGS IN MY LIFETIME,

BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS.

THIS NURSE CAME IN.

AND SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF ANY OF THE MADISON FAMILY WAS IN THERE.

SHE SAID, "WELL, YOU NEED TO COME -- COME WITH ME NOW."

WHEN I WALKED IN AND SAW HIM...

I SAID, "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"

I KNEW GOD WAS GONNA RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD.

I KNEW HE WAS.

IT'S A MIRACLE.

SO RICK TOLD US THAT HE BELIEVES THAT YOUR ACTIONS

ARE WHAT BROUGHT HIM BACK FROM THE DEAD.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE HE WOULD'VE COME BACK FROM THE DEAD

IF YOU HADN'T HAVE PRAYED AT ALL?

NO.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I PRAYED AND PRAYED FOR HOURS, OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE HOURS I SPENT IN THAT PRAYER ROOM.

RICK'S STORY OF RESURRECTION IS

A LESSON IN THE POWER OF LOVE

AND BELIEF IN THE FACE OF MEDICAL SCIENCE.

WELL, HOW HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW, AFTER?

TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON.

YOU KNOW, LOVE PEOPLE, RESPECT PEOPLE,

TRY TO HELP PEOPLE, GO THE EXTRA MILE TO...

ALSO GO AROUND AND PRAY FOR PEOPLE, TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE,

MINISTER TO, AND MIRACLES HAPPEN FOR THEM.

IT'S TRUE.

WELL, I REALLY FEEL THAT THAT'S PART OF THE PROOF THAT

THERE WAS A REAL, EXPERIENCE, IS THAT...

THE CHANGE THAT'S TAKEN PLACE.

SO, RICK, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR MOM WAS THE KEY PIECE

IN THIS EQUATION OF WHY YOU CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD?

ABSOLUTELY.

HER PRAYERS DREW ME TO THE PRAYER ROOM,

WHERE I HEARD HER PRAY AND WATCHED HER PRAY.

AND I FELT THE HAND.

HAD SHE NOT BEEN INTERCEDING AND PRAYING ON MY BEHALF,

I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

I BELIEVE THIS CASE IS A GOOD MIX OF FAITH AND MEDICINE.

AND WE GET TO SEE HOW THE TWO WORKED HAND-IN-HAND.

BUT CAN ONE WORK WITHOUT THE OTHER?

JOHNNY, I JUST READ FROM YOUR REPORT.

WHAT'S THE MOST AMAZING THING IN THIS CASE FOR YOU PERSONALLY?

RICK AND HIS MOTHER, JEWEL, ARE AMAZING PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THIS CASE WAS JUST HER

RELENTLESS EFFORT TOWARDS SEEING HER SON LIVE AGAIN.

I MEAN, JUST REALLY BREAKING IT DOWN TO A BASIC

WHY DID IT HAPPEN, UM,

I-I REALLY BELIEVE SHE JUST KEPT GOING.

SHE KEPT ASKING. SHE KEPT PETITIONING.

EVEN WHEN HE'S HAVING HIS OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE,

WHEN HE'S DEAD... YEAH.

HE SEES HIS MOTHER. YEAH.

AND SHE HASN'T GIVEN UP ON HIM. THAT'S AMAZING.

AS SHE WAS STANDING THERE CRYING,

SHE TOOK A TEAR FROM HER EYE,

WIPED IT FROM HER FACE AND TOUCHED HER SON'S FACE.

SHE ANOINTED HIM WITH OIL.

SHE LAID HER HANDS ON HIM.

THIS ESTABLISHED A CONNECTION WITH HER SON.

SHE BELIEVES THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO

IDENTIFY NOT ONLY WITH HIM AS SOMEONE SHE COULD NOT RECOGNIZE,

BUT THERE WAS A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION THERE THAT WAS MADE.

AND THAT IS MAYBE WHY RICK IS STILL ALIVE TODAY.

SAM, IF YOU COULD PICK OUT ONE ASPECT OF THE CASE

THAT YOU WOULD SAY IMPACTED YOU THE MOST,

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT ONE THING WOULD BE?

PAUL'S WILL WAS VERY STRONG,

EVEN UP THROUGH THE HEART ATTACK TO WHERE HE GOT INTO HEAVEN.

IT WAS HIS WILL THAT HE DIDN'T WANNA STAY.

EVEN THOUGH THE -- HIS MOM WAS TRYIN' TO CONVINCE HIM TO STAY,

HE WAS READY TO GO BACK.

AND EVEN HIS WILL WHEN HE HAD THE TRIAL WITH SATAN,

HIS WILL WAS STILL CONSISTENT.

"I WANNA GO BACK WITH MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN."

AND I REALLY... YEAH.

BELIEVE IT WAS HIS WILL TO COME BACK HERE.

SO IT PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT... WOW.

ROLE IN THIS WHOLE THING. THAT'S GOOD.

SAM, WHAT BROUGHT PAUL ESSARY BACK?

IT WAS NO DOUBT THE PRAYER CHAIN, I MEAN, FOR HIS WIFE,

DOENYE, TO CONTACT PEOPLE OVER THE PHONE TO BEGIN PRAYIN'.

I REALLY BELIEVE THE POWER OF PERSISTENT PRAYER FOR,

COACH ESSARY PLAYED A INTRICATE PART OF HIM COMIN' BACK.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND AMAZING ABOUT BOTH THESE CASES

IS THE ROLE THE MOTHER PLAYS. YES.

RICK'S MOTHER DOESN'T WANT HIM TO LEAVE HER.

SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO BE DEAD.

SHE WANTS TO KEEP HIM FROM -- FROM PASSING ON.

PAUL'S MOTHER WANTS HIM TO STAY DEAD.

SHE WANTS HIM TO STAY WITH HER IN HEAVEN.

SO BOTH MOTHERS WANNA BE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE A COMMON THREAD HERE -- NOT GIVING UP.

SACRIFICE THEMSELVES, SACRIFICE THEIR TIME,

THAT'S A KEY TO RESURRECTION.

THESE TWO CASES GIVE US A LOT OF ANSWERS.

WE CAN GO. AND WE CAN CONTINUE DIGGING.

AND I THINK THAT THE TRUTH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO

UNCOVER AS WE CONTINUE ON. YEAH.

**